Machine for making printing-plates.



J. S. DUNCAN. MACHINE FOR MAKING PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. 1914.

Patented. Oct. 16,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. S. DUNCAN. MACHINE FOR MAKING PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1914.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

Lie 65626,

J. S. DUNCAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, I914.

LQQSfiYSI Patented Oct. 16, 12m.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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JOSEPH S. DUNCAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ADDRESSOG-RAPHCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PRINTING-PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 191?.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for MakingPrinting-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for making printing plates bystamping up printing characters directly from the metal of the plate,these plates being adapted for use in an addressograph machine or thelike, for printing letters, addresses and other matter.

In my earlier U. S. Patent, No. 921,600, I disclosed a hand machineparticularly adapted for office use for making printing plates, and mypresent invention comprises certain improvements on the general type ofmachine disclosed in said prior patent, and more particularlyimprovements in the mechanism for operating the punches and dies andregistering the punch and die head.

One of the primary objects of this invention is the provision ofmechanism which will be capable'of multiplying the power exerted uponthe operating handle or'lever and transmitting the same to the punchesand dies so that the required pressure of the punches anddies will besecured with the exertion of but little efi'ort by the operative.

Another object is the provision of means for reducing to a minimum thefriction between the moving parts of the operating mechanism and to soconstruct the punch and die operating mechanism that the die will bemoved to and held in operative position and the punch will besubsequently forced into cooperative relation with the die to producethe required impression.

A further object is to provide improved means for registering andlocking the punch and die carrying head before the punch and dieoperating mechanism is brought into Engagement with the respectivepunches and Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of theinvention will be readily understood from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings:

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention;

, Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the machine, certain workingparts being shown in elevation and other parts not comprehended by mypresent invention being shown by dotted lines;

Fig.3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the punchesand dies in operatlve position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the punch operatingtoggle mechanism, and

Fig. 5 is a detail end view of the lower toggle link.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 5 indicates the base ofthe machine, from which the arch or standard 6 rises to form themainframe of the machine. A main shaft 7 is mounted centrally of thearch with its lower end supported in suitable bearings on the base 5 andits upper end disposed in a suitable bearing in the crown of the arch. Ahead comprising a die carrying portion 9 and a punch carrying portion 11is fixedly mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith. The details ofconstruction of this head may be of any approved form, such, forinstance, as that disclosed in my prior patent, previously mentioned,and therefore this head is shown in the present instancediagrammatically only. It will sufiice for an understanding of mypresent invention to state that a series of dies 12 is mountedperipherally on the portion 9 and a corresponding series of punches 13is mounted on the portion 11, the punches and dies being arranged inpairs and the companion punch and die of each pair being adapted to movetoward and from each other on the head. The punches and dies are bothnormally held in the retracted or inoperative position shown in Figs. 1and 2 by suitable spring mechanism (not shown). A work table or support14 extends across the front of the machine and is provided with a notchor aperture 15 through which the punches may be projected intoengagement with the work which is held and carried by a carrier (notshown) of any preferred construction. The desired pair of punches anddies is brought into alinement with the aperture 15 by rotating theshaft 7 through a controlling shaft 16 equipped on its outer end with aknob or handle (not shown) disposed in convenient position to be engagedby the left hand of the operator, and

1 the inner end of shaft 16 is connected to shaft 7 by beveled gears sothat the shaft and head carried thereby will be rotated from the shaft16. The upper end of shaft 7 is connected with an indicator 17 which isprovided on its face with characters corresponding to the characterscarried by the punches and dies, so that by observing the indicator theoperator can turn the head to bring the required character intooperative position. The mechanism thus far described may be of the usualor any preferred construction and a detailed description thereof willnot be necessary for an understanding of this invention.

A presser lever 18 is pivotally mounted at its rear end by means of apin 19 to the upper end of a standard 21 carried by the base 5. Thislever is shaped to accommodate the shaft 7 and extends forwardly abovethe head. At its forward end this lever is provided with a pressermember 22 adjustable therein and adapted to be retained in adjustedposition by a lock nut 23. The presser member is disposed in alinementwith and is positioned above the die which has been brought to positionabove the aperture 15 in the work support and upon downward movement ofthe lever this member engages with the upper end of the die and forcesthe same downwardly into operative position, as shown in Fig. 3. Thisdie operating lever is operated by toggle mechanism disposed above andadjacent to its forward end. The toggle mechanism comprises the shaft 24mounted in suitable bearings on the arch 6, as shown in Fig. 1, andhavin fixedly secured thereon a link 25, prefera ly bifurcated as shownin Fig. 1. A second link 26 is connected with the link 25 by means of apin 27 and the lower end of link 26 is connected to lever 18 by a pin28. It will thus be obvious that atoggle connection is provided betweenthe lever 18 and the shaft 24. A lever 29 is also fixed on shaft 24 and,to lend strength to the construction, is preferably cast integral withthe link 25.

The die lever operating toggle is operated to move the die to operatlveposition by means of connections between the manually controlled lever31 and the lever 29. The manually operated lever 31 is mounted tooscillate on a shaft 32 carried in suitable bearings on the base 5 ofthe machine. the lever being equipped at its free end with a handle 33.As shown in Fig. 1 the lever 31 has an elongated sleeve 34 rigidlyattached thereto and preferably cast integral therewith, this sleevebeing also mounted on the shaft 32. An arm 35 (Fig. 2) extendsrearwardly from the sleeve 34 and the free end of this arm is connectedwith arm 29 by a link 36. It will thus be obvious that when the lever 31is swung forwardly on its pivot the arm 35 will be moved from theposition shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 to rock the shaft 24and straighten out the toggle connection between this shaft and thelever 18 so that the lever is depressed to move the die 12 into theoperative position shown in Fig. 3.

The punches 13 are moved into cotiperative relation with their companiondies by means of a punch lever 37 pivoted upon a pin 38 to the standard21 and extending forwardly beneath the head, this lever being likewiseshaped to accommodate the shaft 7. At the forward end of the lever apresser member 39 is mounted, this member being similar to the pressermember 22 and adjustably mounted in the lever and locked in adj ustedposition by a lock nut 41. The presser lever 37 is also operated bytoggle mechanism which will now be described. The forward end of lever37 is bifurcated as shown in Fig. 1 to receive the upper end of a link42, which is secured to the lever by a pin 43. The lower end of link 42is connected with the upper end of a link 44 by means of a pin 45, thelower end of link 44 being pivotally mounted on the shaft 32. In orderto lengthen the bearing surfaces and transmit the pressure with minimumfriction..when the toggle is straightened out I haye mounted ananti-friction roller 46 in the link 42 between the pins 43 and 45 andalso a similar anti-friction roller 47 in the link 44 between the pin 45and shaft 32. These rollers are rotatably carried upon pins 48 and 49respectively and when the toggle is moved from the position shown inFig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 the thrust is transmitted through therollers so that a roller bearing is provided which reduces the frictionand relieves the links of the direct strain.

In the operation of the device it is desirable that the die bepositioned first and that the punch be subsequently forced intocooperative relation therewith. I have therefore provided a lost motionconnection between the operating lever 31 and the punch operating togglewhich causes the die toggle to be straightened out into the positionshown in Fig. 3 before the punch toggle is operated. The end .of thelink 44 adjacent the sleeve 34 is therefore provided with two shoulders,51 and 52 respectively, spaced apart as shown in Fig. 5 and adapted tobe engaged by a lug 53 projecting upwardly from the sleeve 34 betweenthe shoulders 51 and 52. When the operating lever 31 is in inoperativeposition the lug 53 will engage with the shoulder 52 and hold the partsin the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2. When, however, theoperating lever 31 is limits the movement of the toggle.

swung to the left, viewing Fig. 2, the lug 53 will be brought intoengagement With the shoulder 51 at or about the time that the die togglehas been straightened out into the position shown .in Fig. 3. Furthermovement of the lever will swing the toggle link 44 in acounter-clockwise direction into the position shown in Fig. 3 to forcethe punch upwardly into cooperative relation with the die which is heldin lowered position by its toggle. It will be obvious therefore, thatthe initial operative movement of the lever 31 positions the die andthat subsequent movement of the lever operates the punch. The die toggleand the connection between the arm 35 and arm 29 will be broughtpractically to a dead center before the lug 53 is engaged with shoulder51. so that during the operative movement of the punch the die will beheld practically stationary in operative position. The link 44 isprovided on its lower and forward -end with a stop 54 equipped with aresilient buffer 55 which engages the frame 5 as shown in Fig. 3 and theoperating handle has been moved to the extreme of its operative movementthepunch toggle will have slightly passed dead center, consequently, itwill remain in this position until upon return movement of the lever 31the lug 53 engages with the shoulder 52. which will return the toggle tothe inoperative position shown in Fig. 2.

In order to prevent injury to the punches and dies in the event that avery hard or unusually thick piece of material were inserted between acompanion punch and die I have provided means which will permit thepunch operating lever 37 to yield so that no injury to the machine wouldresult. As shown in Fig. 2 the rear end of lever 37 is shaped to fitover a block 56. pivoted on the pin 38. and the lever is normally heldwith respect to the block in the position shown in Fig. 2 by anexpansion spring 57 surrounding a bolt 58 extending upwardly from theblock 56 through the lever, the tension of said spring being regulatedby a nut 59 on the bolt. It will be manifest that if upward movement ofthe punch should be prevented by a piece of thick or very hard materialcontinued operative movement of the lever 31 would cause the rear end oflever 37 to raise a ainst the force of s rin 57 so that When with afinger 65 adapted to engage in the notches of the wheel 61 to lock thesame against movement. It will be understood that the notches on theregister wheel correspond in number and position to the punches and dieson the head and when the wheel is locked one pair of punches and dieswill be disposed in alinement with the opening 15 of the work plate. Thefinger 65 is preferably adjustable by means of a screw 66 so that itwill enter the full depth of the notches in the register Wheel. Acontraction spring 67 attached at one end to an arm 68 secured on thebell crank lever 63 and attached at its other end to a hook 69 on thesleeve 34 normally urges the finger 65 'into engagement with theregister wheel. The forwardly projecting arm 71 of the bell crank leveris shaped at its forward end to provide a lip 72 adapted to be engagedby a finger 73 carried by the sleeve 34 so that when the handle is inrearward position, as shown in Fig. 2, this finger engages the lip androcks the bell crank lever to release the finger 65 from the registerwheel and hold it in inoperative position so long as the handle remainsin inoperativeposition. The initial forward movement of the handle,however, releases the finger 73 from the lip 72 so that the spring 67will immediately swing the bell crank lever to engage the finger 65 withthe register wheel to register and lock the head.

It will be manifest from the foregoing that so long as the operatinglever 31 is in its rearward position the head may be rotated freely tobring the proper punches and dies into working position. A slightmovement of the arm 31 will release the bell crank lever so that theregister wheel will be immediately engaged by the finger 65 to lock thehead against rotation. Further movement of the lever will depress thedie into operative position-and finally, after the lug 53 has beenbrought into engagement with the shoulder 51, the punch lever 37 will beoperated through the instrumentality of the lower toggle to force thepunch into cooperative relation with the die thereby producing thedesired impression upon the stock.

It is believed that my invention and its mode of operation will bereadily understood from the foregoing Without further description andwhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the inventionit should be understood that various modifications in the structuraldetails disclosed may be resorted to within the scope of the followingclaims:

I claim:

1. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a head, aplurality of pairs of punches and dies mounted thereon, mechanismincluding a pair of toggles for operating companion punches and dies,and means including a single lever and connections between said leverand toggles for actuating said mechanism to operate the toggles inpredetermined sequence, one of said connections permitting lost motionwhereby a die is brought into operative position and rests substantiallystationary during the movement of the cooperating punch.

2. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of arotatable head, a plurality of pairs of punches and dies mountedthereon, toggle mechanism for operating the punches, toggle mechanismfor operating the dies, and means including a single lever andconnections between said lever and toggles for operating said togglemechanisms in predetermined sequence, one of said connections permittinglost motion whereby a die is brought to operative position and restssubstantially stationary during the movement of the cooperating punch.

3. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a head,punches and dies carried thereby in opposed relation, a toggle mechanismfor operating the dies, a toggle mechanism for operating the punches, ahand operated lever, a link connecting said lever and die operatingtoggle mechanism, and a lost motion connection between said lever andsaid punch operating toggle mechanism.

4. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of opposedpunches and dies, toggles for forcing a punch and a die into cooperativerelation, and means including a single lever and direct and lost motionconnections between said lever and the respective toggles for operatingsaid toggles in succession to first place the die in operative positionand subsequently move a punch into cooperative relation therewithwhereby said die remains substantially stationary during the movement ofthe cooperating punch.

5. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a head,punches and dies carried thereby in opposed relation, toggle mechanismspositioned above and beneath the dies and punches respectively, anoperating lever, a link connecting said lever with the die operatingtoggle mechanism to operate said toggle upon initial movement of saidlever, a lug connected with said lever, and a boss carried by said punchoperating toggle in the path of said lug whereby said punch operatingtoggle is operated after said lever has traveled a predetermineddistance.

6. In a machine for making printing plates,.the combination of arotatable head, a series of opposed punches and dies carried by saidhead, toggle means disposed on opposite sides of said head for forcingcom panion punches and dies into cooperative relation, a singleoperating lever,'and connections between said lever and said means, oneof said connections permitting lost motion whereby a die is first movedinto operative position and subsequently a punch is moved intocooperative relation therewith, said die remaining substantiallystationary during the movement of the cooperating punch.

7. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a head,an impression device carried thereby, a presser lover, a pivoted supportfor one end thereof, a presser member carried by said lever in positionto operate said impression device, a toggle connected to said leverbetween the pivoted support and the presser member, means for actuatingsaid toggle to operate said lever whereby said impression device ismoved to operative position, and means for resiliently maintaining oneend of said lever in engagement with its pivoted support whereby theexertion of excessive pressure upon said impression device is prevented.

8. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a head, aplurality of pairs of impression devices carried thereby, a pair ofpresser levers, presser members mounted on said levers in position tooperate a pair of said impression devices, a toggle connected with eachof said levers, an oscillatory operating handle, connections including abell crank lever and a link between one of said toggles and saidoperating handle whereby said toggle is operated upon initial movementof the handle, and a lost motion connection between said handle and theother toggle whereby said other toggle is operated subsequently to theoperation of said first toggle.

9. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a head,impression devices mounted thereon, a pair of presser levers, pressermembers carried by said levers in position to operate said impressiondevices, and means for operating said levers to force said impressiondevices into cooperative relation, a pivoted block, means at the end ofone of said levers to embrace said block, and a spring biasing the endof said lever toward said block whereby said lever is yieldingly mountedto prevent the exertion of excessive pressure upon the impressiondevices.

10. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a punch,a presser lever for operating the same, a pivot pin for said lever, ablock carried by said pin, said lever having a sliding connection withsaid block, and a spring normally holding said lever in engagement withsaid block, said spring being adapted to permit movement of the leverwith respect to said block whereby excessive pressure on the punch isprecluded.

11. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a head,a punch mounted thereon, a pivotally mounted presser lever, a pressermember carried by said lever in position to actuate said punch, a toggleconnected with said lever, a pivotally mounted operating lever, a lugconnected with said operating lever, and a shoulder carried by saidtoggle in the path of movement of said lug whereby said toggle isoperated to actuate the punch after a predetermined movement of theoperating lever has taken place.

12. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a punch,a presser lever for actuating said punch, a toggle connected with saidlever, a pivotally mounted operating lever, a lug rigidly connected withsaid operating lever, and a pair of shoulders on said toggle disposed inthe path of movement of said lug whereby a lost motion connection isestablished between said operating lever and said toggle.

13. In a machine for making printing plates, the combination of a head,punches and dies carried thereby, pivotally mounted presser levers,presser members mounted on said levers in position to engage companionpunches and dies, a toggle connected with said die lever, a secondtoggle connected with said punch lever, a pivotally mounted operatinglever, a positive connection be tween said operating lever and said dietoggle, and a lost motion connection between said operating lever andsaid punch toggle whereby said punch lever is actuated from the operatinlever subsequently to the actuation of the die lever.

JOSEPH S. DUNCAN.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN M. l/VARDEN, J. C. CARPENTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of JEatenta, Washington, D. 0.

